LOW ELECTION TURNOUT; GOVERNMENT, PARTIES AND

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 000390 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SA/INS NSC FOR RICHELSOPH E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2016 TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM NP SUBJECT: LOW ELECTION TURNOUT; GOVERNMENT, PARTIES AND MAOISTS CLAIM VICTORY REF: KATHMANDU 381 Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, reasons 1.4 (b/d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) The February 8 municipal elections saw an average 20 percent voter turnout across the country. The Government proclaimed the polls a success. However, the Maoists and political parties separately claimed victory for the low turnout, believing their actions (Maoists used a campaign of violence and strikes, while the Parties engaged in boycotts and demonstrations) caused the King's municipal polls to fail. There were over 500 politicos and journalists arrested. Party leaders declared they would continue with peaceful demonstrations until the King stepped down, while the Maoists halted their February 5-11 strike. Army and other sources reported a United Marxist-Leninist (UML) activist was killed in the aftermath of a demonstration in western Nepal. About 700 supporters of the seven-party alliance marched through Kathmandu on February 9 to protest the Army shooting. Maoist violence and Maoist-Army clashes continued around the country. End Summary. LOW TURNOUT; ELECTION COMMISSION REMAINS OBJECTIVE -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) The February 8 municipal polls called by the King as part of his three-year "roadmap" to democracy received underwhelming support from voters. The Election Commission appears to have withstood political pressure and reported voter turnout accurately. While still tallying votes, Nepal's Election Commission claimed overall voter turnout was approximately 20 percent in the 36 municipalities that conducted polls. The Election Commission has been posting results on their website as they receive them and expect to have all results released by late on February 9. Election officials at two polling stations rebuffed an Assistant Minister's request to allow a group of 80 young people to vote a second and third time. The lowest participation was in Lekhnath municipality (mid-west Nepal near Pokhara) at two percent, and the highest was in Gaur municipality (central terai) at 71 percent. In Kathmandu, voter turnout was 18 percent. Newspapers reported 36 percent turnout in Nepal's second largest city of Biratnagar (eastern terai),but only 8 percent in the tourist city of Pokhara (mid-west). The �00A;far-western municipalities of Mahendranagar and Dhangadhi which Maoists bombed the morning of the elections (reftel) saw a turnout of five percent. Cities such as Nepalgunj (far west) and Butwal (midwest) had no voting as all seats were uncontested or vacant. Nevertheless, on February 8, Home Minister Kamal Thapa expressed satisfaction at the "successful conduct" of elections. He told the press, "by participating in the elections today, the Nepali people have given the message to the world that they stand for peace and democracy." PARTIES CLAIM VICTORY, STRESS CONTINUED PROTESTS -------------- --- ¶3. (C) Leaders from the seven party-alliance claimed their election boycott had resulted in victory and declared the King's municipal elections a failure. Jhalanath Khanal, Central Committee Member of the United Marxist-Leninist (UML) party, said the polls were a "complete failure" and "a victory of the seven-party alliance." He added that the low turnout was "not because of the Maoists." Minendra Rijal, Spokesperson for the Nepali Congress - Democratic (NC-D), explained that the Maoists and Parties had separate programs regarding elections, so the failure of elections could not be regarded as a Maoist-Party "combined program." Regarding next steps for the Parties, Arjun Narsingh K.C., Central Committee Member of the Nepali Congress (NC),said the Parties would urge the public and international community "not to recognize the election." Khanal stressed that the Parties would continue with their peaceful protest programs until the "autocratic King steps down and the people become sovereign." MAOISTS CALL OFF STRIKE, ALSO CLAIM VICTORY -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The Maoists also claimed victory for low voter turnout and called off their February 5-11 nationwide strike after polls closed on election day. A Maoist press statement explained they had withdrawn the strike due to their success in "foiling the municipal election." The Maoists appealed for the seven-party alliance, civil society and intellectuals to come together to develop a new common struggle program against the King. VIOLENCE AT SOME POLLING STATIONS -------------- ¶5. (C) While quiet reigned in many parts of the country, there were some reports of Maoist violence and clashes between demonstrators and security forces in conjunction with the polls. In the town of Gorahi, Dang District (western Nepal),a Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) soldier shot and killed a UML activist during a protest near a polling station. An RNA source asserted that the protester fired first and the Army had only fired in response. A source with the human rights organization Informal Sector Service Center (INSEC) questions the possibility of the protesters firing on security personnel, explaining that the protest took place away from any polling stations. News reports stated that police resorted to charging and firing blanks to disperse demonstrators in front of a polling station in Bharatpur (south-central Nepal). There were also ten demonstrators reportedly injured at various polls in Chitwan District (south Nepal). A Maoist bomb near a polling booth in Dharan (eastern Nepal) injured six civilians. Armed Maoists reportedly approached a polling station in Tikapur municipality (far-west) but retreated quickly after encountering resistance from security forces. Maoists declared a curfew in Dhangadhi municipality (far-west) that was widely observed. OVER 500 ARRESTS ON ELECTION DAY -------------- ¶6. (SBU) The government arrested approximately 500 protesting politicos and journalists throughout Nepal on election day. INSEC reported that the government arrested 137 protesters in the eastern city of Biratnagar. News reports stated the government arrested 300 people in Chitwan (south Nepal),39 people in Kaski (central),14 in Jhapa (east),nine in Nepalgunj (far west),nine in Ilam (east),six in Sunsari District (east),three in Bhairawaha (south-central Nepal), three in Siraha District (west terai),and two in Udayapur (east hills). PARTIES DEMONSTRATE IN KATHMANDU THE DAY AFTER ELECTIONS -------------- -------------- ¶7. (C) In response to the RNA killing of the UML party member in Dang on February 8, the seven-party alliance demonstrated in Kathmandu on February 9. Emboffs observed about seven hundred people gathering at 2:00 pm local time, then marching peacefully through Kathmandu to the Hindu temple where the dead politico's funeral pyre was to be lit. An INSEC source claimed the body of the slain UML cadre was in the possession of the army and would not be released to the family to take to the temple until the evening. While there was heavy police presence, security forces made no attempt to stop the procession. MORE MAOIST VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION -------------- ¶8. (SBU) Newspapers reported additional information on the Maoist attacks on the eve of the election and election day (reftel). Maoist-RNA fighting in Dhankuta (eastern hills) the evening of February 7 resulted in one Maoist and one RNA death, as well as the Maoist abduction of 15 government employees. Maoists focused their attack on one RNA company, the police office, and security personnel guarding polling booths. Several government buildings were also damaged by bombs or arson. The February 7 bombing of a mayoral candidate's home in Janakpur (eastern Nepal) injured four family members. Maoists burned the homes of three other mayoral candidates in Syanja District (central hills) and Dhankuta on February 7. COMMENT -------------- ¶9. (C) Party leaders in detention have called to express their appreciation for Washington's February 8 press statement, which has already started to receive press coverage. With the polls over and all sides claiming victory, each side has the chance to re-examine its position. However, it appears they might all continue along their same trajectory, leading to widening divisions between the political parties and the Palace. MORIARTY